By
TRACEY PRISK

Michelle Stevenson hopes the installation of a $35,000 fence will help fight vandalism

SOLUTION: Heavy-duty fencing should put an end to vandalism at the Orange hockey fields in Glenroi. Photo: STEVE GOSCH 0811sgfence2

ORANGE Hockey Incorporated president Michelle Stevenson hopes the installation of a $35,000 fence will help fight the vandalism that has plagued the Glenroi sportsground for years.

Earlier this year the organisation successfully applied for an Orange City Council sports facility partnership program grant and was given $15,000, which the organisation was required to match dollar-for-dollar.

Ms Stevenson said stopping vandals from cutting fencing on the perimeter of the sporting fields had proved frustrating and she hoped the upgraded fencing would solve the problem.

“It turned into a battle of wills,” she said.

Ms Stevenson said the heavy-duty fencing would be the same as what was installed at Glenroi Public School, with the addition of reinforced brackets.

“We hope we’ll be able to stop the flow-through (traffic) and we also want to match the school fence,” Ms Stevenson said.

She said the priority was to ensure the safety of the players who used the sporting fields.

“We try and make our sport safe and we have children that need to be protected,” she said.

Ms Stevenson expected the new fencing to be installed within the next month.